LXX. 



SALirARIA ARUNDTNACEA. (sELnv. 



Reed Warhlkr, Reed Wren. 



The Rcc'd Warbler lias iiiver (that I am aware of) been 

 me{ with in the north of England ; and in the south it appears 

 to be local ; it is, however, rather abundant in the counties 

 of Kent and Sussex. 



To mv friend, Mr. Doubleday, of Epping, I am indebted 

 for the eggs, together with a most beautiful nest of this bird. 

 It was built, as they usually are, amongst reeds, by four of 

 which it was supported, and to which it is firmly attached. 

 Mr. Bolton mentions one which was in a low hazel, and Mr. 

 Sweet found another in the low side branches of a poplar ; 

 I should think, however, that such instances are of rare oc- 

 currence. In the nest of the Reed Warbler we have an 

 example of the wonderful adaptation of the habits and in- 

 stincts of animals to the situations in which nature has placed 

 them. Built, as the nest of this bird is, high upon reeds, 

 which are are agitated by every breeze that blows, the eggs 

 would be in continual danger of rolling out, if the little archi- 

 tect did not make its habitation less in diameter, and deeper, 

 in proportion, than those of birds which have not this danger 

 to contend with, and so effectually is this evil prevented, that 

 although, as observed by Montague, the reeds in which it is 

 placed are often bowed by the wind to the very surface of the 

 water, yet the eggs remain secure. They are four or five in 

 number, and in the few which I have seen vary but slightly. 

 The nest is composed almost entirely of the flowering tops of 

 reeds, finer towards its centre ; the outside is bound round 

 and kept firm by long grass mixed with wool, by which it 

 is also attached to the reeds. — Plate LXX., Fig. 1. 



